Written Answers Tuesday 12 January 2010

Scottish Executive

Adoption

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the ethics of the sexual orientation of prospective adoptive parents being a prohibitive factor in the adoption of children.

Adam Ingram: The most important concern is meeting the needs of the child, regardless of the sexual orientation of the adopters. Where adoption by same-sex couple is the best option for a child, that route should be available. The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 which removes the prohibition on adoption by unmarried couples, including same sex couples, came into force on 28 September 2009.

Adoption

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on adoption agencies having an automatic presumption against prospective adoptive parents on the basis of their sexual orientation.

Adam Ingram: All children deserve a secure and stable home to grow up in. Meeting the needs of the child is the paramount concern. If an unmarried couple, regardless of their sexual orientation, is able to provide the safe, stable and secure home that a child needs then there should be no barrier to the placement of a child with them.

  The Scottish Government’s position is that faith-based adoption agencies should be able to continue to operate within the teachings of their faith in order to provide an invaluable service to children who are considered hard to place.

Adoption

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is legal for adoption agencies to have an automatic presumption against prospective adoptive parents on the basis of their sexual orientation.

Adam Ingram: The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 allows unmarried couples, including same sex couples, to adopt as a couple. Alongside this, the UK Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 make it illegal for adoption agencies to refuse to assess potential adopters on the basis of their sexual orientation unless the agency’s charitable instrument enables it to do so.

Agriculture

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many screening decisions the Scottish Ministers have issued for projects under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and how many such projects have been deemed to require the consent of the Scottish Ministers and the submission of an environmental statement to assist with its assessment.

Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish ministers have issued screening decisions on 27 projects under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006, and the Environmental Impact Assessment (Uncultivated Land and Semi-Natural Areas) (Scotland) Regulations 2002 which they replaced. For 20 of those projects the decision was that there was no significant environmental effect; for five others it was that they were outwith the scope of the regulations. The decisions on two projects concluded that they were "relevant projects" likely to have a significant effect on the environment and accordingly could not be carried out without consent of the Scottish Ministers. An Environmental Statement was received for one of the proposals on 11 July 2009 and following consideration, consent was refused and the applicant notified on 4 November 2009. An Environmental Statement has not yet been received for the other project; consequently no consent decision has been made whether or not to grant consent.

  Details of proposals submitted for screening can be viewed on the public register maintained under regulation 7(7) (b) of the 2006 regulations on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Agriculture/Environment/16808/Publicregister/publicregister.

Agriculture

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how often the public register is required to be updated by the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006; how often it is updated, and when it was last updated.

Roseanna Cunningham: The regulations do not specify how often the public register should be updated. However, in practice it is done on a quarterly basis. It was last updated on 16 December 2009.

Agriculture

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it next plans to review the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and whether it is required to do so by a given date.

Roseanna Cunningham: There is no specific statutory obligation to review the regulations and I have no immediate plans to do so.

  The European Commission has indicated its intention to bring forward proposals for revision of the EIA Directive 85/337/EEC later this year or early in 2011.

Agriculture

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 apply to all agricultural or estate management activities potentially damaging to semi-natural areas.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 addresses drainage of moorland for purposes other than intensive agriculture.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture)(Scotland) Regulations 2006 contribute to protecting and enhancing the rural environment by guarding against possible negative environmental effects arising from the restructuring of rural land holdings on agricultural land and/or the use of uncultivated land and semi-natural areas for intensive agricultural purposes.

  Other EIA consent systems may apply to agricultural or land management activities. Exemptions to the provisions of the 2006 Regulations are provided for in Regulation 3 (2) and include projects which constitute development for which the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1999 apply and projects as described in Regulation 3(2) of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry)(Scotland) Regulations 1999.

Autism

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it took to improve service provision in the NHS in response to the report, Psychiatric services for adolescents and adults with Asperger syndrome and other autistic-spectrum disorders , published by the Royal College of Psychiatrists in April 2006.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not routinely respond to reports produced by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, although we remain interested in and take account of their findings. This report overlapped with work that the Scottish Government took forward in respect of the PHIS Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Needs Assessment Report, which was completed in August 2008.

  The Autistic Spectrum Disorder Reference Group worked to improve the consistency of diagnosis across Scotland by training professionals in the use of agreed diagnostic tools and issued a quality standard for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnostic services. It also published guidance to local agencies on commissioning services to ensure that these are appropriate and accessible for people with ASD.

  The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network then published extensive guidelines on assessment, diagnosis and clinical interventions for children and young people with ASD to help doctors better diagnose and manage the condition.

Autism

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what specialist hospital provision is available for people with Asperger syndrome, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: The Fair for All agenda looks to ensure that whatever the individuals’ circumstances, they have access to the right health services for their needs.

  Guidance entitled Achieving Fair Access was issued to the NHS in April 2007 and is available at http://www.healthscotland.com/documents/2033.aspx.

Autism

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that those people with Asperger syndrome who are placed in non-specialist hospital facilities receive treatment appropriate to their needs.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is supporting NHS boards to take forward a change programme to address the health inequalities facing people with a learning disability and/or autism spectrum disorder. A learning network of NHS boards will give them a forum to share learning and good practice. The first meeting of the full learning network is scheduled for February.

  More generally, the Fair for All agenda looks to ensure that whatever the individuals circumstances, they have access to the right health services for their needs.

  Guidance entitled Achieving Fair Access was issued to the NHS in April 2007 and is available at http://www.healthscotland.com/documents/2033.aspx.

Care of Older People

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28899 by Shona Robison on 19 November 2009, whether all local authorities have confirmed that their local arrangements for access to social care services and timescales for access to personal and nursing care services are compatible with the national definitions and standards set out in the guidance, National Standard Eligibility Criteria and Waiting Times for the Personal and Nursing Care of Older People .

Shona Robison: Yes. All 32 local authorities have confirmed that their local arrangements for access to social care services and timescales for access to personal and nursing care services are consistent with the guidance.

Carers

Tricia Marwick (Central Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the NHS, given the role played by it in providing carer support, should be a partner in the carers strategy.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is developing the carers strategy for Scotland in partnership with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA). As NHS health boards are accountable to ministers, it is not appropriate or necessary for them to have equivalent formal status. Clearly, however, they are vital contributors to the work on the strategy and some boards, including NHS Fife, are represented on one or other of the two steering groups helping to inform the development of the carers and young carers strategy. All health boards have been invited to a learning event in February to share practice on their carer information strategies and to input to the development of the carers and young carers strategy.

Drug Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many admissions there have been to NHS Lothian hospitals as a result of taking the cannabis substitute, Spice, in each of the last three years.

Fergus Ewing: Centrally held information on discharges from acute non-obstetric, non-psychiatric hospitals (SMR01) and psychiatric inpatient records (SMR04) does not allow the explicit identification of admissions where the patient has taken the cannabis substitute Spice.

  The Scottish Drug Misuse Database (SDMD), which is being rolled out across Scotland, will track individuals as they progress through treatment. The system has now been modified so that users of the database can select the cannabis substitute Spice from the list if reported by the client. The information collated in financial year 2009-10 will be available from December 2010.

Drug Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many admissions there have been to NHS Lothian hospitals as a result of taking the amphetamine substitutes (a) mephadrone and (b) BZP in each of the last three years.

Fergus Ewing: Centrally held information on discharges from acute non-obstetric, non-psychiatric hospitals (SMR01) and psychiatric inpatient records (SMR04) does not allow the explicit identification of admissions where the patient has taken mephedrone or benzylpiperazine (BZP).

  The Scottish Drug Misuse Database (SDMD), which is being rolled out across Scotland, will track individuals as they progress through treatment. The system has now been modified so that users of the database can select mephedrone and benzylipiperazine (BZP) from the list if reported by the client. The information collated in financial year 2009-10 will be available from December 2010.

Drug Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many admissions there have been to NHS Lothian hospitals as a result of taking the ecstasy substitute GBL in each of the last three years.

Fergus Ewing: Centrally held information on discharges from acute non-obstetric, non-psychiatric hospitals (SMR01) and psychiatric inpatient records (SMR04) does not allow the explicit identification of admissions where the patient has taken gamma-butyrolactone (GBL).

  The Scottish Drug Misuse Database (SDMD), which is being rolled out across Scotland, will track individuals as they progress through treatment. The system has now been modified so that users of the database can select gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) from the list if reported by the client. The information collated in financial year 2009-10 will be available from December 2010.

Fertility Treatment

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28778 by Shona Robison on 23 November 2009, in what respects NHS (a) Fife, (b) Forth Valley, (c) Greater Glasgow and Clyde, (d) Lothian and (e) Tayside do not fully comply with national guidance on IVF treatment.

Shona Robison: NHS (e) Tayside has implemented some of the updated criteria but patients are returned to the waiting list after each unsuccessful cycle of infertility treatment. NHS (c) Greater Glasgow and Clyde offers two cycles of treatment, instead of the recommended three. However, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde include suitable frozen embryos within a cycle of treatment, whilst many other NHS boards do not.

  NHS (a) Fife, (b) Forth Valley and (d) Lothian have still to implement the updated criteria from the 2007 Review of Infertility Services.

  Infertility Network Scotland is working directly with NHS boards to ensure that the voices of patients are heard at a local level in the planning of infertility services in Scotland. The charity will concentrate their initial work on NHS boards not compliant with national guidance.

Fertility Treatment

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28778 by Shona Robison on 23 November 2009, whether it considers self-assessment by NHS boards to be appropriate in considering whether they are meeting national guidance on IVF treatment.

Shona Robison: All NHS boards in Scotland recently completed a detailed questionnaire on the provision of infertility services in their area. Infertility Network Scotland is following up responses to the questionnaire. Whilst Infertility Network Scotland will concentrate their efforts initially on NHS boards who indicated in the questionnaire that they were not meeting the national guidance, the charity do plan to meet with all NHS boards in Scotland.

  A summary of responses from NHS boards will, when finalised, be placed in the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre (Bib. number 49114).

Fertility Treatment

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28778 by Shona Robison on 23 November 2009, when all NHS boards will be fully compliant with national guidance on IVF treatment.

Shona Robison: All NHS boards in Scotland recently completed a detailed questionnaire on the provision of infertility services in their area, and this question was included. Infertility Network Scotland are currently following up responses to the questionnaire, and will meet with NHS boards who are not compliant with national guidance on infertility early in 2010.

  Once complete, a summary of responses from NHS boards will be placed in the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre (Bib. number 49114).

Flood Prevention

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers local authorities have to dredge watercourses.

Roseanna Cunningham: Local authorities currently have powers, under section 2 of the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961, to cleanse, repair or otherwise maintain any watercourse in a due state of efficiency. Under section 4B of the act, they have a duty to do so in certain circumstances. Cleansing means the removal of mud, silt, debris or other obstructive matter from a watercourse in the ordinary course of good maintenance.

  These provisions will be revoked when part 4 of the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 is brought into effect in 2010. Local authorities will then have a general power, under section 56, to do anything to manage flood risk and, under section 59, a duty to carry out any clearance and repair works described in a schedule prepared under section 18. Clearance and repair works consist of removing obstructions, or things at significant risk of becoming obstructions, and repairing artificial structures forming part of the bed or banks of a body of water.

  Inappropriate dredging can cause significant damage to the ecological quality of the water environment, and destabilise rivers leading to increased upstream and downstream erosion. This can damage river banks and even undermine structures in the river channel. The scale of the effect depends on the river characteristics and the design of the works. Because of these risks, dredging requires an authorisation from SEPA under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005.

  However, where the environmental risks are low, the Regulations allow dredging to be undertaken under general binding rules. The rules, specified in CAR, set conditions on appropriate good practice. They cover activities such as removing sediments from around culverts, upstream of small weirs and small, straightened rivers. In these circumstances, no application to SEPA is required.

Flood Prevention

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether grant funding is available to local authorities to undertake dredging of watercourses and, if so, how much has been allocated to each local authority in each of the last three years.

Roseanna Cunningham: Funding for flood prevention services, including the dredging of watercourses to reduce flood risk, is included as part of the block grant provided to local authorities by the Scottish Government but it is not separately identifiable. The full details of the total grant support are issued to local authorities by circular. The most recent circulars can be found by following the link to the following Scottish Government website:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/local-government/17999/11203.

Flood Prevention

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact will be on the timescale for a decision on the Elgin Flood Alleviation Scheme in light of the reporter’s recent request that Moray Council provide further details on downstream of Elgin flood risk.

Roseanna Cunningham: It will delay the submission of the report of the inquiry to the Scottish Government. The report of any inquiry must be considered before ministers come to a decision about confirmation of a scheme. At this stage, it is not possible to estimate a timescale as this will depend on a number of factors, not least when the council can provide the information requested, the content thereof and the extent of any further representations by the parties concerned.

Health

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many deaths due to obesity-related illness there have been in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: The information requested is given in the following table. This provides the numbers of deaths where obesity was recorded either as the underlying cause of death or as a contributory factor.

  The figures shown are probably an under-estimate of numbers of deaths from obesity-related illness, as obesity is a known risk factor in the development of a range of chronic diseases including coronary heart disease, some types of cancer, stroke and hypertension.

  Deaths in Scotland Where Obesity Was Mentioned on the Death Certificate, 2004-08

  

 NHS Board
 Year of Registration of Death


 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008


 Ayrshire and Arran
 6
 10
 10
 8
 15


 Borders
 3
 6
 9
 6
 8


 Dumfries and Galloway
 11
 9
 11
 5
 7


 Fife 
 7
 8
 15
 8
 10


 Forth Valley 
 5
 6
 13
 13
 7


 Grampian
 7
 10
 8
 8
 11


 Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 19
 22
 29
 25
 32


 Highland 
 9
 14
 17
 10
 13


 Lanarkshire
 12
 11
 20
 28
 20


 Lothian
 41
 47
 42
 53
 46


 Orkney
 1
 0
 0
 2
 3


 Shetland
 1
 4
 1
 0
 0


 Tayside
 17
 10
 17
 14
 16


 Western Isles
 0
 1
 0
 1
 1


 All Scotland
 139
 158
 192
 181
 189



  Source: General Registry Office Scotland (GROS).

  Note: Classification of obesity using 10th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD10, code E66).

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals were infected with norovirus during the period (a) December 2007 to December 2008 and (b) December 2008 to December 2009.

Shona Robison: The number of laboratory confirmed cases of norovirus infection are presented in the following table.

  These data are based on voluntary reporting by clinical laboratories in Scotland to HPS on a weekly basis and include cases originating in both healthcare and community settings.

  Laboratory confirmed cases do not include those infected with norovirus, who did not seek medical attention or have a stool sample submitted. Thus, the figures below may underestimate the absolute number of people infected with norovirus.

  Laboratory Confirmed Cases of Norovirus Reported to HPS, by Four-week Reporting Period 2007-09

  

 Four-week Reporting Period
 2007
 2008
 2009*


 1
 129
 641
 144


 2
 132
 363
 305


 3
 133
 269
 219


 4
 253
 200
 153


 5
 134
 182
 98


 6
 161
 121
 74


 7
 62
 49
 50


 8
 28
 23
 13


 9
 19
 26
 6


 10
 90
 22
 27


 11
 205
 47
 133


 12
 211
 95
 288


 13
 486
 133
 532


 Total 
 2,043
 2,171
 2,042



  Source: Health Protection Scotland.

  Note: * Data for 2009 are provisional.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason 19 of the 22 NHS boards were unable to meet the 4% sickness absence target in 2008-09.

Nicola Sturgeon: The HEAT target for March 2009 of 4% was a very challenging target. Four NHS boards achieved a rate of less than 4%, two boards achieved their individual targets of 5% and 6% respectively and of the remaining 16 NHS boards only one reported a rate higher than 5%.

  When compared to March 2008 NHSScotland reported a 0.63% improvement in absence rates which equates to over 650,000 more hours being available for the service. Seventeen NHS boards reported improvements in their sickness absence rates when compared to March 2008.

  There is an expectation that NHS boards will continue to develop strategies that will promote attendance at work and further reduce absence towards a standard of 4%.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how each NHS board performed against each HEAT target for (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09 and what the projected performance is for 2009-10.

Nicola Sturgeon: The performance of NHS boards against each of the HEAT targets due for delivery in 2007-08 and 2008-09 are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50010).

  The latest performance on 2009-10 HEAT targets is available through official statistics published throughout the year (for example, waiting times statistics on the ISD website: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5557.html and C.diff statistics on the Health Protection Scotland website: http://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/pdf2009/0927.pdf).

  In addition the Scottish Government will shortly be bringing this information together in the Scotland Performs area of the Scottish Government website (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/scotPerforms).

Influenza

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the influenza A (H1N1) vaccination programme for children aged 0 to five will commence.

Nicola Sturgeon: Phase two of the vaccination programme to offer vaccination to children aged over six months and under five years has now commenced and will continue over the next few weeks. We anticipate that this will be completed by the end of January with some mop up activity into mid-February.

Influenza

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the influenza A (H1N1) vaccination programme for children aged 0 to five will be completed.

Nicola Sturgeon: It is anticipated that the vaccination of young children will be completed by the end of January, with some mop up activity into mid-February, to ensure all children aged over six months and under six years are invited for vaccination.

Influenza

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children aged 0 to five have contracted the influenza A (H1N1) virus and how many of them have been hospitalised.

Nicola Sturgeon: An estimated 7,991 children aged 0 to four years in Scotland contracted H1N1, experienced symptoms and were taken to see a GP. An estimated 21,036 children aged five to 14 years in Scotland also contracted H1N1, experienced symptoms and were taken to see a GP.

  A total of 1,482 H1N1 laboratory confirmed individuals have been admitted to hospital. Where the age had been specified or was known, 255 (17.2%) were aged under five years.

Influenza

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28625 by Nicola Sturgeon on 16 November 2009, how many doses of the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine have been delivered to (a) NHS boards and (b) GP practices in each week since 21 October 2009.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Scotland has now received 100% of the vaccine supply required to vaccinate all those in the initial priority groups and all children aged over six months and under five years. This means that 1,716,500 doses of pandemrix and 167,800 doses of celvapan have been delivered to health boards and GP practices across Scotland.

Influenza

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many health and social care workers have been (a) invited to have the influenza A (H1N1) vaccination and (b) vaccinated.

Nicola Sturgeon: Health boards have indicated that vaccination has been offered to all those in the initial priority groups, including health and social care workers. A mop up exercise continues to take place to the end of January however, to ensure that everyone in the initial priority groups has been invited for vaccination.

  To date, 50.8% of eligible frontline health care staff have received the vaccination and 32.1% of eligible frontline social care staff have been vaccinated.

Influenza

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28625 by Nicola Sturgeon on 16 November 2009, how many of the 1.3 million people in the priority groups for the influenza A (H1N1) vaccination programme have been vaccinated.

Nicola Sturgeon: Health boards have indicated that vaccination has been offered to all those in the initial priority groups. Data for patients in the clinical priority groups estimate that the uptake rate for vaccination to date equates to 45.6% for all clinical at risk groups.

Influenza

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether primary school children with asthma are in the priority category for the influenza A (H1N1) vaccination programme and, if so, for what reason some of them have not yet been invited for vaccination.

Nicola Sturgeon: The at risk groups as announced on 13 August 2009 includes all people who have asthma that requires continuous or repeated use of systematic steroids or with previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission.

  The H1N1 vaccination programme was launched on 21 October and proceeded with a phased roll out from this date. Health boards have indicated that vaccination has been offered to all those in the initial priority groups and a mop up exercise continues to take place to the end of January to ensure that everyone in the initial priority groups has been invited for vaccination.

Livestock

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to EU Regulation 21/2004 on the identification of sheep and goats, what research it is undertaking to examine the continued viability of within-business moves.

Richard Lochhead: Within-business moves is not currently applied to the sheep and goat identification system and therefore there is no question of continued viability. As with all proposals, the Scottish Government utilises all available information to assist with the decision making process. With regards to within-business moves, the following information has been considered: data and movement populations, epidemiological issues and risks, legal aspects and practical issues faced by farmers.

Livestock

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to EU Regulation 21/2004 on the identification of sheep and goats, when it plans to publish guidelines or regulations on within-business moves.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government will publish guidance on all aspects of EU Regulation 21/2004 in the early part of 2010.

Mental Health

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many men aged (a) under 18, (b) 18 to 44, (c) 45 to 64 and (d) 65 and over in the Lothians region have been admitted to a mental health speciality in each of the last five years.

Shona Robison: The number of men aged (a) under 18, (b) 18 to 44, (c) 45 to 64 and (d) 65 and over resident in the Lothians who have been admitted to a mental health speciality in each of the last five years are detailed in the following table.

  Lothian residents admitted to psychiatric specialties in Scottish hospitals. Number of individual male patients admitted each year by age group: years ending 31 March 2005 to 2009:

  

 
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008
 2009


 All ages
 1,568
 1,564
 1,395
 1,351
 1,281


 0-17
 30
 28
 25
 29
 23


 18-44
 642
 634
 531
 575
 549


 45-64
 353
 353
 365
 355
 324


 65 and over
 543
 549
 474
 392
 385

Mental Health

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many women aged (a) under 18, (b) 18 to 44, (c) 45 to 64 and (d) 65 and over in the Lothians region have been admitted to a mental health speciality in each of the last five years.

Shona Robison: The number of women aged (a) under 18, (b) 18 to 44, (c) 45 to 64 and (d) 65 and over resident in the Lothians who have been admitted to a mental health speciality in each of the last five years are detailed in the following table.

  Lothian residents admitted to psychiatric specialties in Scottish hospitals. Number of individual female patients admitted by age group: years ending 31 March 2005 to 2009:

  

 
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008
 2009


 All ages
 1 581
 1 479
 1 366
 1 360
 1 284


 0-17
 20
 19
 16
 23
 13


 18-44
 788
 741
 670
 681
 635


 45-64
 389
 398
 372
 364
 365


 65 and over
 384
 321
 308
 292
 271

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that there are dementia specialist nurses in either every (a) NHS board area or (b) hospital.

Shona Robison: It is the responsibility of individual health boards to ensure they have the right staff and services in place to meet the clinical needs of the population within their board area, including the needs of those with dementia.

  In Scotland the precise term "dementia specialist nurse" is not recognised as such; rather there are clinical nurse specialist and nurse consultants as registered nursing professionals who have also acquired additional knowledge, skills and experience, together with a professionally and/or academically accredited post-registration qualification in a clinical specialty. They practice at an advanced level and may have sole responsibility for care episode or defined client/group such as those with dementia.

  We will set out future plans for dementia service development and improvement in the National Dementia Strategy which will be published in April.

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the role is of a dementia specialist nurse.

Shona Robison: In Scotland the precise term "dementia specialist nurse" is not recognised as such; rather there are clinical nurse specialist and nurse consultants as registered nursing professionals who have also acquired additional knowledge, skills and experience, together with a professionally and/or academically accredited post-registration qualification in a clinical specialty. They practice at an advanced level and may have sole responsibility for care episode or defined client/group such as those with dementia.

  NHS boards’ nurses specialising in dementia have a range of roles including: playing a key role in the delivery of an individually-focused service to people with dementia; providing expert advice to other nurses, carers and agencies; leading and disseminating research; educating and supporting staff in care homes, as well as informing national policy development.

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the value of having dementia specialist nurses in the NHS to improve the experience of patients with dementia accessing acute health care.

Shona Robison: In Scotland the precise term "dementia specialist nurse" is not recognised as such; rather there are clinical nurse specialist and nurse consultants as registered nursing professionals who have also acquired additional knowledge, skills and experience, together with a professionally and/or academically accredited post-registration qualification in a clinical specialty. They practice at an advanced level and may have sole responsibility for care episode or defined client/group such as those with dementia.

  NHS boards’ nurses specialising in dementia have a range of roles which will include helping to improve the experience of those with dementia in accessing acute health services.

  Nationally, there are three posts funded by Alzheimer Scotland for specialist nurses to work in accident and emergency and acute care, to lead the development and delivery of an individually focused service to people with dementia in those settings. Other approaches to provision in acute care include the "Dementia Champions" being set up in several NHS boards in Scotland, and The University West of Scotland is piloting a programme wherein general nurses from acute care undertake training in dementia and lead change in their area.

  We will set out future plans for dementia service development and improvement in the National Dementia Strategy which will be published in April.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland’s report, Too close to see: Summary of our investigation into deficiencies in the care and treatment of Mr F , how it will address the recommendation regarding clinical psychology provision to inpatient services and to small specialist teams such as the Dual Diagnosis Team.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Ministers accept the report in full and are taking forward the recommendation within it directed to the Scottish Government relating to the use of the Care Programme Approach.

  We will monitor the implementation of the other recommendations and we have written to the relevant health board requesting an outline of their plan to implement the recommendations directed to the board, including the recommendation regarding clinical psychology provision to in-patient services and to small specialist teams such as the Dual Diagnosis Team.

NHS Expenditure

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of total health spending was expended on (a) wages, (b) salaries and (c) pensions in each year since 1999.

Nicola Sturgeon: The percentage of total health spending expended on salaries and pensions in each year since 1999 is set out in the following table.

  

 
Salaries £
% of Total Expenditure
Pensions £
% of Total Expenditure


 2000-01
 2,310,087
 39.24%
 117,068
 1.99%


 2001-02
 2,477,962
 38.95%
 90,430
 1.42%


 2002-03
 2,722,545
 38.03%
 132,029
 1.84%


 2003-04
 3,017,766
 40.13%
 139,972
 1.86%


 2004-05
 3,272,614
 38.89%
 369,735
 4.39%


 2005-06
 3,582,457
 39.29%
 398,400
 4.37%


 2006-07
 3,753,362
 40.00%
 429,370
 4.58%


 2007-08
 3,955,457
 39.19%
 464,188
 4.60%


 2008-09
 4,150,234
 39.42%
 493,558
 4.69%

NHS Expenditure

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of each NHS board’s budget was expended on (a) wages, (b) salaries and (c) pensions in each year since 1999.

Nicola Sturgeon: The proportion of each NHS board’s budget expended on salaries and pensions in each year since 1999 is set out in the following tables.

  Salaries

  

 Health Board
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08
 2008-09


 Argyll and Clyde5
 44.7%
 44.2%
 44.6%
 45.4%
 44.2%
 39.9%
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 Ayrshire and Arran
 43.6%
 42.9%
 43.9%
 43.5%
 38.6%
 39.1%
 39.9%
 40.5%
 40.9%


 Borders
 47.3%
 46.7%
 46.4%
 46.2%
 40.9%
 43.9%
 42.8%
 45.8%
 44.6%


 Dumfries and Galloway
 45.2%
 45.2%
 44.4%
 42.1%
 39.6%
 39.2%
 38.7%
 40.1%
 41.8%


 Fife
 42.1%
 41.3%
 43.0%
 41.6%
 38.7%
 40.1%
 39.1%
 40.0%
 40.6%


 Forth Valley
 46.0%
 44.4%
 44.4%
 46.9%
 41.0%
 40.1%
 40.2%
 40.7%
 41.2%


 Grampian
 50.5%
 50.3%
 50.1%
 51.7%
 48.8%
 50.3%
 50.8%
 49.2%
 50.5%


 Greater Glasgow
 54.2%
 52.9%
 53.7%
 56.7%
 52.5%
 53.2%
 52.8%
 53.0%
 53.2%


 Highland
 49.9%
 49.0%
 49.6%
 50.0%
 44.8%
 46.7%
 40.1%
 38.9%
 41.2%


 Lanarkshire
 40.2%
 38.3%
 39.5%
 41.4%
 38.2%
 38.1%
 36.4%
 35.6%
 35.9%


 Lothian
 52.9%
 51.5%
 53.8%
 48.1%
 49.2%
 51.3%
 51.3%
 51.6%
 52.3%


 Orkney
 38.5%
 38.1%
 40.0%
 38.4%
 38.8%
 37.5%
 42.8%
 43.6%
 42.4%


 Shetland
 34.0%
 33.1%
 32.3%
 33.4%
 35.5%
 38.1%
 38.0%
 35.7%
 38.2%


 Tayside
 55.9%
 52.0%
 54.3%
 56.3%
 52.1%
 52.6%
 51.0%
 51.6%
 51.3%


 Western Isles
 40.2%
 37.2%
 39.3%
 40.0%
 37.2%
 38.6%
 40.8%
 41.0%
 38.9%


 Health Scotland
 14.7%
 14.5%
 16.2%
 23.3%
 16.6%
 19.5%
 18.2%
 18.9%
 26.0%


 Common Services Agency
 29.2%
 31.5%
 33.1%
 32.6%
 33.6%
 32.9%
 30.3%
 22.0%
 22.3%


 Scottish Ambulance Service
 58.6%
 59.7%
 59.8%
 61.1%
 60.9%
 62.8%
 57.3%
 59.6%
 60.3%


 State Hospital
 63.6%
 62.4%
 62.4%
 59.0%
 54.5%
 52.5%
 56.6%
 65.6%
 63.0%


 Mental Welfare Commission
 57.3%
 53.1%
 54.6%
 60.8%
 44.9%
 50.4%
 48.8%
 51.1%
 49.4%


 NHS 241
 n/a
 11.2%
 36.1%
 44.1%
 46.7%
 53.1%
 53.0%
 53.1%
 52.8%


 National Waiting Times Centre2
 n/a
 n/a
 39.7%
 41.1%
 40.4%
 44.1%
 43.4%
 31.6%
 66.0%


 NHS Quality Improvement Scotland3
 n/a
 n/a
 26.0%
 28.4%
 33.9%
 39.7%
 39.6%
 38.5%
 38.4%


 NHS Education4
 n/a
 n/a
 3.9%
 4.4%
 3.6%
 3.8%
 4.5%
 4.2%
 4.5%


 Clinical Standards Board
 20.9%
 31.8%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Health Technology Board
 14.1%
 29.0%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education
 2.5%
 3.0%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



  Pensions

  

 Health Board
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08
 2008-09


 Argyll and Clyde5
 2.0%
 1.4%
 2.5%
 2.0%
 4.7%
 4.3%
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 Ayrshire and Arran
 2.4%
 1.8%
 2.1%
 2.1%
 4.4%
 4.4%
 4.6%
 4.8%
 4.9%


 Borders
 2.6%
 1.7%
 2.3%
 3.3%
 4.9%
 5.1%
 5.3%
 5.4%
 5.6%


 Dumfries and Galloway
 2.8%
 1.5%
 2.4%
 2.2%
 4.5%
 4.6%
 4.6%
 4.8%
 5.0%


 Fife
 2.3%
 1.4%
 2.1%
 1.9%
 4.5%
 4.5%
 4.7%
 4.6%
 4.9%


 Forth Valley
 2.2%
 2.2%
 2.2%
 1.6%
 4.6%
 4.4%
 4.6%
 4.8%
 4.9%


 Grampian
 2.8%
 1.8%
 2.7%
 2.6%
 5.6%
 5.5%
 5.5%
 5.7%
 6.0%


 Greater Glasgow
 2.8%
 1.8%
 2.3%
 2.5%
 5.8%
 5.8%
 5.6%
 5.7%
 6.0%


 Highland
 2.3%
 1.9%
 2.5%
 2.5%
 5.2%
 5.3%
 4.7%
 5.7%
 5.0%


 Lanarkshire
 1.7%
 1.3%
 1.8%
 1.8%
 4.3%
 4.2%
 4.2%
 4.2%
 4.2%


 Lothian
 2.8%
 1.8%
 2.5%
 3.4%
 5.6%
 5.7%
 6.0%
 6.1%
 6.2%


 Orkney
 1.3%
 1.3%
 1.8%
 1.8%
 4.4%
 4.2%
 5.1%
 5.2%
 5.0%


 Shetland
 2.5%
 1.1%
 1.6%
 1.6%
 3.8%
 4.3%
 4.3%
 5.0%
 4.6%


 Tayside
 2.5%
 1.8%
 2.5%
 2.5%
 6.0%
 6.0%
 6.3%
 6.3%
 6.6%


 Western Isles
 1.3%
 1.3%
 1.8%
 1.8%
 4.1%
 4.5%
 4.7%
 5.0%
 4.5%


 Health Scotland
 0.9%
 0.5%
 0.8%
 1.0%
 2.2%
 2.4%
 2.8%
 3.2%
 3.4%


 Common Services Agency
 1.6%
 2.1%
 2.2%
 1.8%
 4.1%
 3.7%
 3.7%
 3.2%
 3.1%


 Scottish Ambulance Service
 3.2%
 2.0%
 2.7%
 2.9%
 6.6%
 6.6%
 8.2%
 7.3%
 7.2%


 State Hospital
 2.1%
 2.0%
 2.9%
 2.7%
 6.2%
 6.3%
 6.9%
 7.7%
 8.1%


 Mental Welfare Commission
 6.2%
 5.6%
 6.0%
 4.8%
 5.2%
 7.9%
 6.5%
 7.1%
 5.3%


 NHS 241
 
 0.5%
 1.7%
 5.1%
 5.5%
 6.3%
 6.1%
 6.1%
 6.1%


 National Waiting Times Centre2
 
 n/a
 3.0%
 1.8%
 3.9%
 4.4%
 4.5%
 3.4%
 7.3%


 NHS Quality Improvement Scotland3
 
 n/a
 1.2%
 1.3%
 3.4%
 4.3%
 4.7%
 4.7%
 4.7%


 NHS Education4
 
 n/a
 0.2%
 0.3%
 0.5%
 0.5%
 0.6%
 0.6%
 0.6%


 Clinical Standards Board
 0.8%
 1.1%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Health Technology Board
 0.3%
 1.0%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education
 0.14%
 0.1%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



  Notes:

  1. NHS24 was created in 2002-03.

  2. The National Waiting Times Centre was created in 2003-04.

  3. NHS Quality Improvement Scotland was created in 2003-04 and took over the activities of the Clinical Standards Board and Health Technology Board for Scotland.

  4. NHS Education was created in 2003-04 and took over the activities of the Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education.

  5. Argyll and Clyde health board was dissolved after 2005-06 and its activities transferred to Greater Glasgow and Highland health boards.

  6. The rate of employer’s pension contribution rose from 6% to 14% in 2004-05, which was funded on a UK level.

NHS Staff

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many members of staff were employed by the NHS in each year since 1999, broken down by (a) staff and (b) NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on staff in post is published annually as part of the workforce census at 30 September each year. Data for 2007 to 2009 is available at:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5247.html.

  Data prior to this is available at http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5248.html.

NHS Staff

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on employing bank nurses in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09 and will be spent in 2009-10, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The cost of employing NHS Scotland bank nurses by NHS board in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09 can be found on the ISD website http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5685.html . Information on NHS Scotland Bank nurse spend in 2009-10; broken down by NHS board will be published in June 2010.

Nutrition

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28892 by Shona Robison on 25 November 2009, how many pregnant women have benefited from the healthy start scheme.

Shona Robison: There are currently 37,957 healthy start beneficiaries in Scotland, of which approximately 3,000 are pregnant women.

Nutrition

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28892 by Shona Robison on 25 November 2009, whether all pregnant woman qualify for vouchers under the healthy start scheme.

Shona Robison: No. Healthy start is open to pregnant women and families with children under the age of four who are on income support, income-based jobseekers’ allowance or child tax credit (but not working tax credit unless their family is receiving working tax credit run-only) with an income of £16,040 a year or less.

  All pregnant women under the age of 18 also qualify for the scheme, whether or not they are on benefits.

Nutrition

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28892 by Shona Robison on 25 November 2009, how the £19 million to NHS boards has been allocated for (a) improving nutrition of pregnant woman, (b) increasing breast feeding rates and (c) training for health professionals.

Shona Robison: Funding over the three year period is being allocated in an annual lump sum to NHS health boards. It is for them to determine how best to use that funding to meet local needs, within the broad criteria set out in CEL 36.

  Details of the allocation were outlined in CEL 36(2008) Nutrition of women of childbearing age, pregnant women and children under five in disadvantaged areas, which can be found at:

  http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/CEL2008_36.pdf.

Nutrition

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28892 by Shona Robison on 25 November 2009, how it monitors the impact of the £19 million in improving maternal nutrition.

Shona Robison: The £19 million has been allocated to health boards under a number of broad criteria. That is to give heath boards flexibility to implement strategies and interventions appropriate to their local areas. It is expected that health boards will monitor and evaluate interventions locally and we will also be asking health boards to provide us with information on action taken.

  We will be able to monitor the impact nationally through the annual breastfeeding rate statistics, the numbers of maternity units attaining Baby Friendly status, and the number of beneficiaries claiming Healthy Start benefit.

Smoking

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the revised estimate is of the cost for (a) small and (b) large retailers of compliance with the ban on the display of tobacco as contained in the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill.

Shona Robison: There is no single estimate of the cost to a retailer of complying with the tobacco display ban, as the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill and the relevant draft regulations do not stipulate how tobacco should be stored to comply with the display ban. The financial memorandum sets out estimated costs provided by retailers to comply with the legislation. The Scottish Government makes clear in the financial memorandum that these figures were supplied by industry representatives based on the assumption that refitting would require under the counter units and have not been adjusted to account for more innovative, cost effective solutions for concealing displays.

  In line with the commitment made to the Finance Committee, officials have been working with retailers to minimise the cost to them of complying with the display ban. Draft regulations allow retailers to modify their gantries rather than having to refit their shop, significantly reducing the cost to comply with the legislation. The least expensive option offered by the National Federation of Retail Newsagents would involve installing a white plastic fronting to each row on the gantry. It has been estimated that such a solution could cost as little as £20 for the materials for each fronting with minimal installation costs. If they so wished, retailers of all sizes could install such a solution in order to comply with the legislation.

  The Scottish Government will continue to work with retailers of all sizes to support them in complying with this legislation.

Smoking

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for the regulations on banning tobacco displays for (a) small and (b) large retailers and what time will be provided for consultation.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government announced at the introduction of the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill that the display ban of tobacco products in shops will be introduced for small shops in 2013 and larger retailers in 2011. The Scottish Government intend to consult on draft regulations as soon as practicable after Royal Assent of the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill. As is current best practice, three months has been allowed for the consultation process on the regulations.

  Draft regulations were shared with the Health and Sport Committee in advance of its stage 2 consideration of the Bill and can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/hs/TGPBill/documents/2009.11.03TPMSBill-Draftregulations.pdf.